Bossaphonik Presents Roforofo Jazz

Bossaphonik hopes you had a great summer! We are back from our break with a bang as Parisian band Roforofo Jazz are heading to the Bossaphonik stage for the first time to energize us with stylish grooves incorporating Afrobeat, hip hop and jazz.

The 7 piece band formed in 2019 uniting members from reputed acts such as Les Frères Smith, Afro Latin Vintage Orchestra, Oghene Kologbo (guitarist with Fela Kuti), Los Tres Puntos, No Water Please and Sax Machine. They were founded by Martin Smith who had spent 15 years as guitarist for the acclaimed French Afrobeat act Les Frères Smith. In setting up Roforofo Jazz he stirred up sediments and musical silts in a swamp of hip hop radicality, funk groove, Afro power and jazz freedom with a pronounced taste for adventurous blends. Roforofo, or “muddy” in Yoruba, is muddy only because it agitates, not because it stagnates.

When in their early stages, Roforofo Jazz were invited by the Kuti family to perform at the 2019 Felabration – the annual mass tribute to the inventor of Afrobeat in Lagos, Nigeria. They were also the first French band to do so. And for good reason, the seven musicians have a special connection to live performance, their one and only channel of expression where moments of alchemy and connection are prioritized. Following this very special experience and with their reputation bolstered the band recorded their first video “Fire Eater” in Nigeria followed by a debut EP of the same name. The music was a particular favourite of France’s Radio Nova who played it heavily for 3 months. In 2023 the band dropped their second opus “Running The Way” receiving high praise from the French Media (Le Monde, Télérama, FIP, RFI, France Musique), a solid album demonstrating again the ability of the band to produce a unique sound, inspired by the legends of Afrobeat, on which the MC Days aka RacecaR from Chicago finely drops his old-school hip hop. This forthcoming gig will be a rare UK appearance for the band – travelling especially from Paris for our Bossaphonik dancing joy.

Check out the video of Fire Eater shot in Lagos, Nigeria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3LkvQ3w-kM&list=RD-3LkvQ3w-kM&start_radio=1

Check out a live performance of the track Shawarma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iot7xeyeMzQ&list=RDIot7xeyeMzQ&start_radio=1

Check out the album Running The Way on Bandcamp: https://officehomerecords.bandcamp.com/album/running-the-way

After the pleasures of the live music will be a Bossaphonik club session with guest DJ Boomshank – an Oxford-based DJ who regularly spins at The Library pub. Also a splendid saxophonist who plays in the formidable swing-jazz-grime-hip hop Dutty Moonshine Big Band. He has been part of Oxford's own brass band funksters Temple Funk Collective and also live drum 'n' bass outfit Confidential Collective. Together with Bossaphonik resident DJ Dan Ofer, they will treat the dancefloor til 1:30am to the sounds of…

Jazz Funk * Afrobeat * Afro Jazz * Brazilica * Latin Jazz * Cumbia * Global Hip Hop * Balkan Beats * Soul Jazz * Electro Swing * Global Grooves Galore * Nu Jazz Bizniz!

Friday 18th September Bossaphonik Presents Roforofo Jazz + Guest DJ Boomshank Cowley Workers Social Club, Between Towns Road. OX4 3LZ (Near Templars Square Shopping Centre. Regular buses 1 and 5 go from City Centre up Cowley Road and back til 2:55am, stopping opposite the venue) 8pm – 1:30am, band starts at 9:30pm

£15 advance + £1.50 booking fee (wegottickets.com) / £17 student ID on door / £20 door

Hope to see ya there!